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Gear Reviews
500TDI 500-Series Tube DI
When I reviewed the LaChapell Audio 583S mk2 tube preamp [Tape Op #104], I learned that it is a fantastic mic preamp with lots of tone and personality, and it is the only 500-series preamp that I know of that provides a full 250 V to its 12AX7 tube. The 500TDI is a 500-series tube DI inspired by...
Gear Reviews
A Life In Waves (film)
One cannot mention Suzanne Ciani's name without following it up with the word "trailblazer." This documentary film follows Ciani as she creates a world that basically didn't exist before she came along, by taking her passion for synthesizers and transforming it into a multi-layered business,...
Gear Reviews
ATM230 Dynamic Mic
Audio-Technica has knocked it out of the park with this hypercardioid dynamic instrument mic. This is definitely my new go-to mic for toms and even kick drum. I tried out a three-pack of the ATM230 on several sessions, with different styles of music. Each time, the mic delivered wonderfully. I was...
Gear Reviews
AudioFuse Desktop USB Interface
Arturia has been building stellar hardware and software instruments for years now, and the AudioFuse is their first ingress into the competitive world of audio interfaces. I was a little uncertain at first what would differentiate this small wonder — which Arturia markets as a future-proof and...
Gear Reviews
CA500EQ 2-Channel Rackmount EQ
How often do we get the opportunity to revisit something we created early in our careers, with the aim of refining it for new audiences? With the release of the CA500EQ, Coleman Audio founder Glenn Coleman [Tape Op #88] reached back to his early days. Glenn's history in pro audio is well known. He...
Gear Reviews
Cloudlifter Zi Instrument/Mic Activator
If you read my previous review of the Cloudlifter Z Mic Activator [Tape Op #115], then you know I'm a big fan of the Cloudlifter series. The Cloudlifter Zi builds on the success of the CL-Z, but adds a whole new dimension by including a high-Z instrument-level input. Visually, this box looks just...
Gear Reviews
DX-2 Dynamic Mic
Touted as "the world's first variable dual dynamic capsule microphone," this odd looking, half-cylindrical mic sports two phase-aligned dynamic mic elements, which are voiced differently, and a simple balance knob that can change the blend between the two capsules. Despite one side of the MXL...
Gear Reviews
Echoes T7E Magnetic Echo Plug-In
Last year, I reviewed Audiority GrainSpace [Tape Op #121], a very cool plug-in that is doing something fairly new in the DSP world. Now, in total contrast to GrainSpace, Audiority has released Echoes T7E, a recreation of the vintage Binson Echorec. While it isn't as innovative as GrainSpace, I...
Gear Reviews
HA-872 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Mic
As engineers and music producers, we have a special relationship with our microphones, as they are the lenses through which we hear the world. We desire a certain accurate sonic reproduction, but also just the right amount of flattery for a given purpose. Through experience, we learn just how much...
Gear Reviews
Hooke Verse Bluetooth Headphones w/ Binaural Mics
3D audio was all the rage at the 2017 AES Show. The demand for immersive audio is being driven by the gaming and virtual reality markets. There are even 7-channel mics available now that look like medieval clubs ready to kill an aggressive orc in your next LARPing adventure. Meanwhile, if you want...
Gear Reviews
Little Plate Electromechanical Reverb Plug-In
Not only am I a huge fan of plate reverb, Soundtoys is also one of my favorite companies. They offer up a consistently unique and vibe-y catalog of inspiring plug-ins that I can't help but use on a regular basis — EchoBoy [Tape Op #62], Crystallizer [#62], and Decapitator [Tape Op #105] being some...
Gear Reviews
Ottobit Jr. & Mercury7 Effects Pedals
Meris, the relatively new L.A.-origin company founded by hardware and software engineers formerly of Strymon and Line 6, has jumped into the world of floor pedals with what may very well be "The Bit Crusher To End All Bit Crushers," as well as a very hi-fi, cinematic-sounding reverb unit. Ottobit...
Gear Reviews
Oxford Dynamic EQ Plug-In
Dynamic equalizers have been around for a while. Historically, they were outboard units, making them expensive and limited to one stereo track at a time. When plug-ins of this type appeared, most were confusing to my eyes and sounded artificial or hyped to my ears. Fortunately, that's not the case...
Gear Reviews
Physion Structural Effects Plug-In
Way back in 1998, we interviewed Dan Rathbun [Tape Op #10]. One of his techniques for mixing was something he called "Split-Spectrum Compression." Simply put, this is the idea of using a crossover to split an instrument into two or more frequency bands to gain more control over its sound. A bass...
Gear Reviews
Rack v0.5 Virtual Modular Synth
Wow! This is one of the coolest pieces of software I've ever seen and its free! VCVRack is an open source modular synthesizer software platform developed by Andrew Belt that sounds great and is very intuitive and easy to install and use. The download is small and fast and the install is a breeze....
Gear Reviews
RX 6 Advanced Restoration Suite
I've previously reviewed RX 3 [Tape Op #100] and RX 4 [#105], and with iZotope's update to RX 6 last year, I think it's time to once again point out what a powerful set of tools this application and plug-in suite is. Of all the software and plug-ins I use, at this point in time, RX 6 is the one...
Gear Reviews
S3V Active 3-Way Monitor
German speaker manufacturer ADAM Audio recently introduced its S-series speakers, including the S2V, S3V, S3H, S5V, and S5H. These speakers represent the newest advances in technology from ADAM and include updates in driver, porting, and cabinet design. As many of you know, ADAM speakers use a...
Gear Reviews
Shape 65 Active Monitor
Buying speakers can be a daunting, deeply personal, and financially speculative venture. Many of us play the odds when choosing a playback system for our spaces. Perhaps we've demoed specific monitors in other spaces that blew us away, only to be disappointed when we brought them into our own...
Gear Reviews
Starlight Small-Diaphragm Condenser Mic
Let me start off by saying that I love this mic! It is well-designed, with a number of standout features; and if you buy the stereo kit, it comes with everything you need to get rolling, including a matched pair of the mics. The Starlight is a small-diaphragm pencil condenser with three filter...
Gear Reviews
Stereo Voltage Control Model 3722 Compressor
"Compressor Tone-Shaper Mix-Inflator Mojo-Maker" — I guess that was too much to put on the front panel, so Overstayer called it Stereo Voltage Control instead. Contrary to the company's name, the Overstayer SVC couldn't arrive too early, and it's welcome to stay permanently. I was turned on to...
Gear Reviews
TDP & TDA DI Boxes
Who needs another DI box? A quick online search turns up dozens of models — from units under $20, to high-end tube DIs like the Tonecraft 363 [Tape Op #103] for $1,495. And now, TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik (South Windsor, CT) has thrown its hat into this crowded ring with four U.S.–made models. What...
Gear Reviews
Tube Mix 5-Channel Tube Mixer
It seems like most of us own or have owned a piece of ART gear at one time or another, and Tape Op has reviewed many of the company's recording products. The Tube Mix falls right in line with ART's ethos of purveying practical gear at attainable, realistic prices, while it offers a fun and ideal...
Gear Reviews
U99 Large-Diaphragm Tube Mic
The boutique microphone landscape was very different 16 years ago, when I bought an original Soundelux Microphones U99 in 2001 — serial number 017. It was my first multipattern large-diaphragm tube condenser. With sketchy vintage dealers offering very few options, buying a high-end tube mic back...